This work focuses on the problems associated with community share ownership trust in rural development. It analyzes the aspect of corporate social responsibility in particular.
Community Share Ownership Trusts are increasingly becoming popular and popular as a means of community economic empowerment. However, there is very limited documented stock of knowledge on the frequency of their use, their validity in ensuring economic empowerment, structures and regulations governing their operation, or the factors that enable and constrain their effectiveness. The government of Zimbabwe recently introduced the Community Share Ownership Trust legitimized by the indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act of March 2010. The indigenization Act is a national policy which stipulates that the native citizens of Zimbabwe should be the majority shareholders of almost every business entity operating in Zimbabwe. The policy precisely states that 51% of the shares should belong to Zimbabweans with the community owning 10% of the 51%. Community Share Ownership Trust (CSOT) as an imaging rural development approach is proving to be effective. The approach has been implemented in countries like South Africa, India and others. It is a hybrid of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which was coined in Europe in 1890s. Corporate social responsibility lacked legal force to enforce the corporate world to compensate the communities of the damage left during their operations. This led to the emergence of CSOT in developing countries.
While there are benefits attributed to the implementation of CSOT there are challenges that are also associated with it. The implementation of CSOT as a rural development approach is marred with a number of challenges which are both administrative and operational. It is constrained by funding, lack of managerial skills, limited community participation, poor communication, and lack of community sense of ownership among others. The strength of CSOT lies in the active participation of communities in development initiatives. CSOT promotes dialogue and community interaction, this is good for development as it brings social bond. It also promotes sustainable use of natural resources, management and protection. It encourages efficient and equitable distribution which is important for communities to participate in the economic mainstream. CSOT promotes economic empowerment, capacity building and community participation.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
1.2 Problem Statement
1.3 Purpose of the study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Objectives of the study
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Delimitation of the study
1.8 Assumptions of the study
1.9 Limitations of the Study
1.10 Definition of terms
1.11 Summary
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Introduction
2.2 Overview
2.3 Participatory theoretical framework (Bottom-up approach)
2.4 Common Good Capitals
2.5. Regulations and structures
2.6 The extent of community participation
2.7 Strength and limitations of CSOT
2.8 Expectations of communities on CSOT
2.9 Summary
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Population
3.4 Sample and Sampling Procedures
3.5 Research Instruments
3.5.1 The questionnaire
3.5.2 Interviews
3.6 Pilot Study
3.7 Data Collection Procedures
3.8 Data Presentation and Analysis
3.9 Summary
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Characteristics Of Respondents
4.3 Regulations and structures governing CSOT
4.4 Extent of participation
4.5 Strengths and limitations
4.6 Community Expectations on CSOT
4.7 Review of CSOT documents (Secondary Data)
4.8 Summary
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.2.1. Objectives of the study
5.2.2 Review of literature
5.2.3 Research Design and Methodology.
5.3 Findings and Conclusions
5.4 Recommendations
Study Objectives and Research Themes
The research investigates the problems associated with the implementation of Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOT) in rural development, specifically focusing on the Mazvihwa area in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe. The study seeks to examine existing regulations, structures, and the extent of community participation, while identifying core limitations and strengths of the approach in addressing rural development needs.
- Examination of regulatory and structural frameworks for CSOT operations.
- Analysis of community participation levels in CSOT-led development projects.
- Identification of operational and administrative limitations and strengths.
- Evaluation of community expectations regarding socioeconomic empowerment.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Background
Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOT) is an emerging concept in Zimbabwe meant to economically empower rural communities. In development, economic empowerment is a means and an end in itself.
Unequal distribution of economic resources amongst the black majority and white minority was a legacy of the colonial regime. The legacy entrenched poverty in rural communities and wealth was concentrated in the urban areas. Allied to this is the urban biased development to the detriment of the rural communities exhibited by under-development of rural communities and exploitation. According to Golfillan (2009) the socio-economic disparities existing between the rural and urban communities can only be bridged by active participation of rural communities in development initiatives. Community Share Ownership Trust is a strategy used by the Zimbabwean government to empower rural communities to propel their development. Community Share Ownership Trust is based on the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility whereby corporate are obliged to plough back to the communities. Under the guise of corporate social responsibility the firms or companies would occasionally offer donations to communities to meet their needs. However, these donations many times were falling far below the needs of the communities or were far-short the damage caused by the firms (Golfillan, 2009). In addition to that there is no legal framework in Zimbabwe that binds firms to comply with their social responsibility. This saw most of the firms flouting their social responsibility policy. This necessitated the formation of community share ownership trusts or schemes. This innovation has a legal binding on the compliance by firms.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: Provides the background information, research problem, objectives, and significance of the study on CSOT.
CHAPTER TWO: Reviews literature on participatory development frameworks, common good capitals, and the history and challenges of CSOT.
CHAPTER THREE: Outlines the research methodology, including the descriptive survey design, sampling procedures, and research instruments used.
CHAPTER FOUR: Presents and analyzes the collected data regarding CSOT structures, community participation, and operational challenges.
CHAPTER FIVE: Summarizes the major research findings, draws conclusions, and provides policy recommendations.
Keywords
Community Share Ownership Trust, CSOT, rural development, economic empowerment, Zimbabwe, Mazvihwa, community participation, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, socioeconomic, infrastructure, policy, Zvishavane, stakeholders, administrative challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research addresses the administrative and operational problems linked to the implementation of Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOT) in rural Zimbabwe, using the Mazvihwa area as a case study.
Which thematic areas are central to this work?
The key themes include the legal and structural frameworks of CSOT, the degree of genuine community participation, the influence of elite capture on project distribution, and the gap between community expectations and current project outcomes.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary goal is to examine how CSOT regulations operate, establish the actual level of local community participation, identify current institutional strengths and limitations, and capture the community's developmental expectations.
What scientific methods were employed?
The study adopted a qualitative descriptive survey approach, utilizing questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with community members and key informants to gather primary data.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The work covers theoretical frameworks of participation, the history of corporate social responsibility, analysis of legislative instruments like the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act, and the practical challenges of resource and benefit management in rural areas.
Which keywords define this research?
The study is characterized by terms such as community economic empowerment, rural development, social responsibility, participation, and trust-based management.
How does the study address the issue of elite capture in the Mazvihwa area?
The study highlights concerns that CSOT benefits are often concentrated where influential figures reside, and that community involvement is frequently limited to legitimizing top-down decisions rather than meaningful policy participation.
What is the author's main recommendation for improving CSOT efficacy?
The author recommends amending current legislation to ensure greater transparency, rotational management, and mandatory stakeholder consultation to hold executive committees accountable to the local population.
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- Nevison Shumba (Autor), 2013, Problems Associated with Community Share Ownership Trust in Rural Development, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/496048
